Second Traffic Fatality This Year: Man Killed in Hilo Crash

A fatal two-vehicle collision in Hilo on Jan. 16 left one man dead and marked the second traffic fatality on Hawai‘i Island so far this year. Hawai‘i Island police say officers responded at 6:23 p.m. to the intersection of Highway 19 and Hikina Place after a white 2017 Ford F150 crossed the centerline and struck a black 2022 Chevy Silverado head-on.

Emergency crews found the driver of the Ford F150 unresponsive at the scene. Fire and medical personnel performed lifesaving measures but were unable to revive him; he was pronounced deceased at 6:57 p.m. Authorities have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death, and his identity is being withheld pending positive identification and notification of next of kin.

The Silverado was driven by a 46-year-old Laupāhoehoe woman, who was transported to Hilo Benioff Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries and remains under treatment. The East Hawai‘i Traffic Enforcement Unit responded to the scene and is continuing the investigation. At this time, speed and alcohol are believed to have been factors in the crash. A coroner’s inquest investigation has been initiated.

This collision occurred on a key artery for Hilo commuters and inter-island traffic, and it has immediate implications for local road safety. Head-on collisions typically produce severe outcomes, and a crash that crosses the centerline heightens concern about both driver behavior and roadway risk. For residents who travel Highway 19 daily - including shifts for hospital and hospitality workers, students, and drivers from Hāmākua and Laupāhoehoe - the incident underscores the fragility of road margins and the potential human and economic cost when safety breaks down.

Beyond the individual tragedy, the crash may prompt renewed scrutiny of enforcement and prevention efforts on the Big Island. Local law enforcement already fields targeted traffic enforcement through the East Hawai‘i Traffic Enforcement Unit; investigators and county officials may consider tightening patrols, stepped-up impaired-driving outreach, or engineering measures at intersections where centerline crossings are frequent. Emergency response also bears a cost in staff time and hospital resources when collisions produce serious injuries or fatalities.

The investigation remains active. Anyone with information about the collision is asked to contact Officer Joshua Rodby-Tomas at 808-961-2339 or Joshua.Rodby-Tomas@hawaiicounty.gov. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 808-961-8300.

For Hilo residents, the immediate takeaway is caution: until investigators complete their work and officials review any recommended changes, drivers should be mindful of speed and the risks of impaired driving on Highway 19. The autopsy and coroner’s inquest will provide more answers, and the county’s response in the coming weeks will show whether this early-year fatality spurs changes to keep island roads safer.